Prescription Medicines Diverted to the Black Market? Dr. Jasloveleen Kaur Explains | Lankesh Trikha

Parvinder Singh Jhotta Murder Case: Are Antidepressants Being Sold Illegally in Punjab? | Dr. Jasloveleen Kaur In this exclusive video podcast on Address It, Editor-in-Chief Lankesh Trikha sits down with Mohali-based neurologist Dr. Jasloveleen Kaur to discuss antidepressants, prescription medicine misuse, Pregabalin, mental health treatment, and the growing concerns surrounding the illegal sale of pharmaceutical drugs in Punjab. Following the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota (Jhotta) in Mansa on October 13, 2026, questions about the alleged illegal sale of addictive and habit-forming medicines at chemist shops have come under renewed scrutiny. Media reports state that Jhota was shot during a confrontation at a medical store over the alleged sale of drugs. The CBI subsequently took over the murder investigation and registered an FIR naming the accused pharmacy owner and other unidentified persons. The allegations remain subject to investigation and legal proceedings. What You Will Learn in This Episode 1: Antidepressants and Mental Health: What are antidepressants? Why do doctors prescribe them, how do they work in the brain, and what role do they play in treating depression and other mental health conditions? 2: Illegal Sale of Prescription Medicines: Dr. Jasloveleen Kaur discusses concerns about alleged irregularities in medicine dispensing, prescription compliance, patient identification, and the potential diversion of medicines for unauthorised sale. 3: How Patients May Be Exploited: The discussion examines a reported concern in which a prescription may specify a three-month course of treatment, but a patient allegedly receives only one month's medication while the remaining supply may be diverted elsewhere. Such practices require proper investigation and should not be assumed to be widespread without evidence. 4: Pregabalin Explained: Why has Pregabalin become a major subject of discussion following the Parvinder Singh Jhota murder case? Dr. Jasloveleen Kaur explains its medical uses, potential side effects, risks of misuse, and the importance of taking it only under appropriate medical supervision. 5: Benefits and Side Effects of Antidepressants: Understand the potential benefits, common adverse effects, treatment considerations, and why patients should never start, stop, or change psychiatric medication without consulting their treating doctor. 6: The Science Behind Depression: What happens in the brain during depression? How do antidepressants affect neurotransmitter signalling, and why is the explanation of depression more complex than a simple chemical imbalance? 7: Chemist Shops and Prescription Regulations: Why are prescription verification, accurate dispensing records, responsible pharmacy practices, and effective drug-control enforcement important for public health? 8: Punjab's Drug Problem and the Jhota Case: The episode explores the wider questions raised by Parvinder Singh Jhota's anti-drug campaign and the public debate about pharmaceutical drug misuse, accountability, and access to medicines in Punjab. Why Is Pregabalin Under Scrutiny? An important regulatory development came on May 20, 2026, when the Government of India published a notification bringing Pregabalin under Schedule H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945. Under the revised requirements, it can be sold only against a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner, and retailers must maintain a separate register recording prescriptions and sales. Pregabalin is prescribed for certain conditions, including neuropathic pain and other neurological disorders. However, misuse can pose serious health risks. It is important to distinguish Pregabalin from antidepressants: although both are prescription medicines used in different clinical contexts, they are not the same class of medication. In this episode, Dr. Jasloveleen Kaur helps explain the medical facts behind these medicines and why prescription compliance, patient safety, and responsible dispensing matter. Watch the complete interview for an informed medical discussion about antidepressants, Pregabalin, depression treatment, prescription medicine misuse, and the questions surrounding Punjab's ongoing debate over drug sales and the Parvinder Singh Jhota murder case. Subscribe to Address It for investigative journalism, expert interviews, ground reports, crime investigations, Punjab news, public health discussions, and conversations that address important issues affecting society. Like the video, share it with others, and comment with your questions for future expert discussions. Editorial Note: This programme is intended for journalistic, educational, and public-interest purposes. Allegations discussed in connection with the Jhota murder case are not presented as established judicial findings. Medical information in this programme is for general awareness and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.